S2E9 Overlord

[Mondo'li Nari]

USS Challenger - Battle Bridge

Mondo quickly disengaged from the auxiliary tactical console on the main bridge, and made his way to the Battle Bridge upon the order from the ship's Captain and Admiral.  He had not seen the man personally before now.  As he hurried to the new position and logged into the other auxiliary console there, he took a measure of the man.

Mondo could not help but be stirred by the man's words.  Even though the Hupyrian felt that their current engagement was ill advised, the speech made by the Admiral granted him an additional degree of confidence and conviction.

Charisma.  It was something hard to define, but absolutely essential in command.

Now fully logged in at the Battle Bridge Aux console, Mondo waited for the Captain's next order.

Soon, anticipation would transform into bloody carnage.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 10 - Transporter Room 1]

As an afterthought, Lahr contacted Petty Officer Nari.

ch'Verret to Nari.  I've been reassigned to Away Team 1.  You'll be remaining with the Bridge crew and Shurile.  Good luck, man. ch'Verret out.

[Mondo'li Nari]

USS Challenger - Battle Bridge

ch'Verret's communication came across Mondo's badge, and for a moment he wished that he was with the man.  He'd often felt that his personal combat skills exceeded his tactical knowledge.  Though, perhaps he should re-think that assumption.   His bicep throbbed briefly with phantom pain, reminding him of how his last personal combat had ended.

He tapped his badge, Acknowledged, Petty Officer ch'Verret.  May your reach exceed their grasp. Nari out.

The Terrans of Earth had a similar saying, but it had an entirely different meaning.

[Jehamy Jex]

[USS Challenger - Battle Bridge]

Dr Jex, now relocated to the reinforced - buried - tactical command centre (also known as the alliterative 'battle bridge') of the Challenger made his own final checks for his part of the forthcoming events. Jehamy wasn't nervous for himself - the symbiont wouldn't permit it - but the host had an overpowering desire to protect his ancient charge at any cost should things go poorly.

The Science Officer reported the outcome of his checks, with a wide - and probably inappropriate for the circumstances - smile on his face, eyes bright and alert. "Sensor baffles ready. Probe decoys loaded. Targeting countermeasures set."

He also had a few novel tricks up his sleeves that he -and the previous hosts - had picked up to give the symbiont - and to a lesser (but strongly related) extent, the Challenger - a better chance of survival.

[Dylan Torngate]

Bridge

Battle Bridge

Lizzie exited the turbolift and, not surprisingly, found that Dylan was already there. She walked straight over to him.

"Have you received all the tactical updates Admiral?" She asked. "Specifically those regarding the at least 12 ships hiding behind a comet." She added.

[Battle Bridge]

Dylan looked up from the display he had that showed him an immersive display of the battlefield - at least so long as the sensor stayed operational. "Indeed I have, Doctor. Our objective remains, however. We need to get these boarding teams onboard the station, and soon." he said, frowning as he took in the rest. "That being said, today will not be without bloodshed," he finished, shaking his head before turning back to the bridge and looking ahead.

[USS Challenger, Battle-Bridge - Helm]

Malik took the position at helm, the battle bridge terminal being more or less an exact copy of the regular bridge version. He read his orders and memorised them, linking in with ensign Jex's terminal to synchronise the launch of the probe with the warp-hop. It was a bold move and if timed correctly, the enemy would hopefully be confused enough to prevent them from initiating the attack. It would also allow the Challenger to circle back around to the rear flank of the enemy formation.

Malik entered the coordinates for the jump and spooled the warp drive up, ready to initiate at the press of a button. They wouldn't quite reach the speed of light, but fast enough to cover the distance in less than a second. The deck plating this far down reverberated slightly at the immense power of the antimatter drive preparing to launch. Now science just had to ready the ghost-probe and fire it off at the same time.

"Warp-jump prepared, Admiral. Ready to initiate on your order."

A bead of sweat ran down the side of the Risan's cheek, the pressure was on to perform or certain death awaited.

Dylan nodded to the man as he declared the Challenger ready to go. "Alright then... execute," he ordered, steeling himself mentally as he readied himself.

All hands, brace for contact.

It was only five words, but in it was a silent meaning. A thanks from him to each and every crewmember for doing their duty, and an unspoken goodbye to those who would not survive. Silence filled the ship as the two escorts peeled off toward the fleet hidden in the comet and the Challenger's warp engines began to whine as they were spooled for the jump. They didn't have to wait long.

The Challenger roared into warp speed for only a moment before exiting beyond the perimeter defenses, a risky and dangerous jump that could have gone wrong so many ways. Once there, what followed was perfectly choreographed chaos. As the ship exited lightspeed, the shields and power on the station momentarily failed, the Federation spy taking down the shields just long enough. Simultaneously, the order was given 'Away Boarders!', sending scores of elite Federation troops onboard the station, materializing in various predetermined beachheads on the station. In order to transport the teams, however, the Challenger had to lower her shields.

The instant she had exited warp, she had been targetted with every battery the enemy could find to fire. Within seconds the Challenger had been surrouned by burnt-orange streams of light, emanating from light defence platforms around them. Seconds later the shields were back up, but damage had still been done.

The Challenger would need to rejoin the battle, and soon. Contact had been made with the enemy forces, and the Federation task force was sorely outgunned.

It was time to get to work.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Battle Bridge]

Dylan looked up from the display he had that showed him an immersive display of the battlefield - at least so long as the sensor stayed operational. "Indeed I have, Doctor. Our objective remains, however. We need to get these boarding teams onboard the station, and soon." he said, frowning as he took in the rest. "That being said, today will not be without bloodshed," he finished, shaking his head before turning back to the bridge and looking ahead.

Dylan nodded to the man as he declared the Challenger ready to go. "Alright then... execute," he ordered, steeling himself mentally as he readied himself.

All hands, brace for contact.

It was only five words, but in it was a silent meaning. A thanks from him to each and every crewmember for doing their duty, and an unspoken goodbye to those who would not survive. Silence filled the ship as the two escorts peeled off toward the fleet hidden in the comet and the Challenger's warp engines began to whine as they were spooled for the jump. They didn't have to wait long.

The Challenger roared into warp speed for only a moment before exiting beyond the perimeter defenses, a risky and dangerous jump that could have gone wrong so many ways. Once there, what followed was perfectly choreographed chaos. As the ship exited lightspeed, the shields and power on the station momentarily failed, the Federation spy taking down the shields just long enough. Simultaneously, the order was given 'Away Boarders!', sending scores of elite Federation troops onboard the station, materializing in various predetermined beachheads on the station. In order to transport the teams, however, the Challenger had to lower her shields.

The instant she had exited warp, she had been targetted with every battery the enemy could find to fire. Within seconds the Challenger had been surrouned by burnt-orange streams of light, emanating from light defence platforms around them. Seconds later the shields were back up, but damage had still been done.

The Challenger would need to rejoin the battle, and soon. Contact had been made with the enemy forces, and the Federation task force was sorely outgunned.

It was time to get to work.

Battle Bridge

Lizzie, deciding to remain where she was for the moment, although severe casualties were not just possible but probable in their current situation. Taking a seat at the engineering console, she set it to monitor damage received and to monitor casualties. That way she would know if she were needed in Sickbay.

The hits they had already taken had not caused any significant damage, at least none that had been reported. Though damage reports were coming in for several of the minor systems. They would need weapons, shields and impulse engines. Anything else could wait. Looking out of the viewscreen, she saw the fleet, for that's what it could only be described as, heading out of their hiding place and preparing to engage.

[Lek]

[Battle Bridge]

Dylan looked up from the display he had that showed him an immersive display of the battlefield - at least so long as the sensor stayed operational. "Indeed I have, Doctor. Our objective remains, however. We need to get these boarding teams onboard the station, and soon." he said, frowning as he took in the rest. "That being said, today will not be without bloodshed," he finished, shaking his head before turning back to the bridge and looking ahead.

Dylan nodded to the man as he declared the Challenger ready to go. "Alright then... execute," he ordered, steeling himself mentally as he readied himself.

All hands, brace for contact.

It was only five words, but in it was a silent meaning. A thanks from him to each and every crewmember for doing their duty, and an unspoken goodbye to those who would not survive. Silence filled the ship as the two escorts peeled off toward the fleet hidden in the comet and the Challenger's warp engines began to whine as they were spooled for the jump. They didn't have to wait long.

The Challenger roared into warp speed for only a moment before exiting beyond the perimeter defenses, a risky and dangerous jump that could have gone wrong so many ways. Once there, what followed was perfectly choreographed chaos. As the ship exited lightspeed, the shields and power on the station momentarily failed, the Federation spy taking down the shields just long enough. Simultaneously, the order was given 'Away Boarders!', sending scores of elite Federation troops onboard the station, materializing in various predetermined beachheads on the station. In order to transport the teams, however, the Challenger had to lower her shields.

The instant she had exited warp, she had been targetted with every battery the enemy could find to fire. Within seconds the Challenger had been surrouned by burnt-orange streams of light, emanating from light defence platforms around them. Seconds later the shields were back up, but damage had still been done.

The Challenger would need to rejoin the battle, and soon. Contact had been made with the enemy forces, and the Federation task force was sorely outgunned.

It was time to get to work.

[Engineering]

Lek felt the impacts as the Challenger was hit as if it were him taking the blows. He saw forcefields snap into place as the hull breached in two places on Decks 11 and 17. Neither hit critical areas, just shuttle system programming and a section of the enlisted quarters. Normally a hit in any section containing personnel quarters would result in casualties, but with the ship at battle stations, all quarters were empty and no one manned shuttle programming during a red alert either. Lek immediately issued orders to a pair of damage control teams to seal the breaches and to standby should those areas of ship be hit again.

"We got lucky that time, only took cosmetic damage on the first round, good thing we caught them by surprise. Now that the point of impact shields are up, they won't get any more freebies. They want to hurt us, they will have to earn it."

Lek called out to Gianetti and that worthy grunted in response as both officers kept an obsessive eye on the engineering readouts for additional or as yet unseen problems.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 10 - Transporter room 1]

[Battle Bridge]

All hands, brace for contact.

It was only five words, but in it was a silent meaning. A thanks from him to each and every crewmember for doing their duty, and an unspoken goodbye to those who would not survive. Silence filled the ship as the two escorts peeled off toward the fleet hidden in the comet and the Challenger's warp engines began to whine as they were spooled for the jump. They didn't have to wait long.

The Challenger roared into warp speed for only a moment before exiting beyond the perimeter defenses, a risky and dangerous jump that could have gone wrong so many ways. Once there, what followed was perfectly choreographed chaos. As the ship exited lightspeed, the shields and power on the station momentarily failed, the Federation spy taking down the shields just long enough. Simultaneously, the order was given 'Away Boarders!', sending scores of elite Federation troops onboard the station, materializing in various predetermined beachheads on the station.

The transporter effect dissipated leaving Lahr, and the team he'd been assigned to as close to the starbases fusion reactors as possible, redundant securities, not to mention, high levels of radiation piped through the bulkheads for exactly this reason, prevented beaming straight into that section of Engineering, but they were close, only a level above and right beside the jeffries tube that would take them down to the next level.  The ensign in command of their team, motioned for Lahr to take his team and move down the hall to have them secure that direction.

A second after their arrival the Starbase's alert status began to announce Intruder Alert.

Lahr nodded silently and pointed to zh'Tianihr and M'lenda to take point and lead them on towards the far end of the hall on the double.  Their whole goal at the moment was to secure that corner and the rooms between for the time it would take for the other team to open the jeffries hatch and make their breach into the reactor room below. The team of 9, including Lahr, traveled 30 ft reaching the first door.  Burke secured it with a short phaser blast to the electrical panel and another to the door jamb - basically spot welding the door to the frame.  It wouldn't hold against a prolonged effort but would contain the engineering staff in the short term.  The leading ladies and the rest of the team continued on while Burke did this.

They were just arriving at a second door when it and the door beyond it both opened almost simultaneously and out stepped two engineering cadets each holding a phaser.  Lahr had no way of knowing if these were some of Leyton's mindwashed people or just junior station staff doing their jobs but at the whim of a madman because their command staff or family were being held hostage - either way it didn't matter.  The safest plan was to take them out of the equation.

zh'Tianihr and M'lenda in a move that had been choreographed over months of training scenarios dealt with the situation.  zh'Tianihr, with her free hand activated a mobile forcefield generator on her armor and stepped in front of M'lenda as a walking shield, even as the marksman took sight on the nearest of the two cadets. In the next instant as the two cadets turned towards the team raising their weapons to fire,  M'lenda took a step to the side outside the Andorian woman's shield coverage and fired on the first of the cadets.  He dropped, even as the second cadet fired for the unprotected Caitian.  But zh'Tianihr was already stepping into the line of fire, having known which way M'lenda was going to step out.

The choreographed move was done a second time, a second later, with similar results. M'lenda stepped out to the side fired, catching the second cadet who also dropped unconscious, a moment before zh'Tianihr stepped back in front of the Caitian protecting M'lenda in the off-chance that her target managed to evade being hit.   The hallway was clear.

zh'Tianihr deactivated the forcefield.   The shields were amazing but the power consumption of them was massive and drained the portable battery units in under 3 minutes.  So they were used sparingly.

As the ladies moved on down the hall towards the corner another 50ft away, it was Lahr's and Skarggarg's turn to seal off the doors that the cadets had exited.  While Lahr did this, he heard?... felt?... sensed with this antennae?...the approach of what he assumed to be part of the station's security detail... not inexperienced cadets with phasers.  Things were about to get interesting... because by the sounds of it ... it was up in the air who would reach the corner first.

[Mondo'li Nari]

USS Challenger - Bridge

The ship shuddered during the terrible moments between their arrival and the offloading of boarding teams.  He made a mental wish that ch'Verret would survive and achieve his objectives, along with the other boarding parties.  Then the shields were up, again.   The tactical station received updates from Engineering, such as was necessary to accurately determine their capabilities.

They had taken damage, but not to critical systems.   Mondo noted that several of the enemy shots had missed their mark, despite the ship being more or less stationary during the beaming.  Someone at science was doing a good job of confusing the enemy sensors.

Leaning into his station, Mondo gave a full picture of the tactical situation.

"The Station seems to be momentarily distracted by an internal power disruption.  Their main batteries have not engaged our force.

I have targeting locks on twelve perimeter defensive installations, mounted within asteroids, which are firing micro-torpedoes at all ships in our force.  These asteroid installations are lightly shielded, and we can easily damage them with our lateral phaser arrays while engaging larger threats with the mains and torpedoes.

I have identification on the enemy starships.  Sovereign class USS Legacy, and Ambassador class USS Zhukov.  Both are engaging our force in conjunction with the fighters.

The Revere is taking heavy fire from the fighter squadrons, and is proving unable to evade them.   The Zhukov is closing on her flank, I am reading an energy build-up in her forward torpedo bays."

"The USS Stalwart has avoided the brunt of the enemy attacks, and is pounding the Legacy with quantum torpedoes and pulse phasers.

Sir- recommend backing the Revere by engaging either the fighters or the Zhukov.  She will not long survive given her present circumstances."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Enemy Starbase]

Between them and the corner was another 50 ft and 2 more doorways.  Giving a sharp two note whistle, Lahr ordered half the team forward in a charge.  The leading ladies sprinted forward activating their forcefield shields with Skarggarg, himself and Helga close behind. Burke, Jengas, Gnarld and Stull would deal with the unsecured doors they passed in their attempt to take the corner before Leyton's troops.

They nearly made it.  zh'Tianihr and M'lenda were 15 ft from the corner when the first pair of the Starbase's security turned the corner with their phasers at ready.  The pair got off a shot each towards M'lenda, catching the Caitian's shield squarely.  The forcefield flickered momentarily under the combined shot but held.

With a kiai, zh'Tianihr and M'lenda closed the last bit of distance aggressively, physically barreling into the pair of guards, even as the enemy braced for the charge activating their own shields to blunt the attack. The foursome were at a stalemate for a moment, until Lahr grabbed one of his concussion grenades, popped the tab and then lobbed it in a banked shot around the corner behind Leyton's men. A moments pause... then a concussive blast from just around the corner that threw Leyton's men towards the corner wall due to the force of the blast; the blast from behind and unblocked knocking them out.  zh'Tianihr and M'lenda were forced back by the blast but because of the forcefield shields they had activated between them and the blast they managed to remain conscious and standing.

Lahr gave another whistle - this one long and low - signaling a lead change.  Helga and Skarggarg activated their shields and moved past the two women and rounded the corner their phasers held ready to fire.  The fact that they didn't immediately fire suggested to Lahr that his grenade had been rather effective.  Meanwhile zh'Tianihr and M'lenda took a moment to gather their senses, after the concussive blast.

Lahr glanced behind briefly to see Burke and Stull each at a door securing it via the spot weld.  Further back still, the reactor team had the jeffries hatch open and the 12 man team was one by one making their way into the accessway.  Things seemed to be going according to plan - at least for the moment.

[Malik Grippen]

[USS Challenger, Battle Bridge - Helm]

Malik banked the ship into a tight port turn away from the station and back towards the battle. He summoned he mighty power of the impulse drive and the Challenger sailed forward towards the engagement.

Hearing Mondo's assessment of the pending torpedo barrage from the Zhukov,  Malik knew what they had to do. He could deal with the consequences later, hundreds of people aboard the Revere were seconds away from death.

The Challenger flew in between the Zhukov and Revere to act as a barrier and take one for the team. It was just in the nick of time too as the Ambassador class let loose with photonic-hell and a full spread of torpedoes impacted the dorsal shields of the Challenger.

[Lek]

[USS Challenger, Battle Bridge - Helm]

Malik banked the ship into a tight port turn away from the station and back towards the battle. He summoned he mighty power of the impulse drive and the Challenger sailed forward towards the engagement.

Hearing Mondo's assessment of the pending torpedo barrage from the Zhukov,  Malik knew what they had to do. He could deal with the consequences later, hundreds of people aboard the Revere were seconds away from death.

The Challenger flew in between the Zhukov and Revere to act as a barrier and take one for the team. It was just in the nick of time too as the Ambassador class let loose with photonic-hell and a full spread of torpedoes impacted the dorsal shields of the Challenger.

[Engineering]

The photon spread threw Lek from where he was monitoring the 'pool table' from the violence of the impact, especially as engineering was located aft. He crawled back to the display and saw that the point of impact shields had done their job as designed. As the energy hit the aft shields, the system Lek had designed drew energy from the shield grid to reinforce the specific location of the hit.

"Aft shields at 40% and regenerating. We can't take another hit like that even with point of impact." Gianetti shouted from his station.

"How long to regenerate?"

"Eight minutes to full recharge."

Lek did a quick calculation and called to the bridge.

"Engineering to bridge. Aft shields need four minutes to be able to take another hit like that. They need eight minutes to be back to full strength. If hit prior to four minutes, they will fail. After four minutes  they will absorb on more salvo like that. We get hit sooner than four minutes and we will be reduced to standard shielding."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Enemy Starbase]

It wasn't his fault.  Lahr hadn't spoken aloud his thought about things going to plan, therefore he hadn't jinxed it.  It just felt that way.

With the corner taken and the rooms between the corner and the jeffries access hatch secured, Lahr had two of his team move up around the corner to 'clean-up' the fallen Leyton troops, moving them to the side of the hall, checking for any serious injury and gagging/binding them so that they wouldn't be a problem when they eventually came to.

It was in the midst of doing this that one of the 8 starbase guards, the officer nearest the back, began to come to and at seeing the invaders tying up their team they set their phaser to overload before they could be stopped.  The resultant explosion killed two of the starbase guards, including the ensign who has set the charge, and injured Helga who at hearing the overload attempted to rush forward cover the blast.

Lahr had Skarggarg drag her back around the corner.  M'lenda and zh'Tianihr were ordered to keep watch at the corner and down anything that moved in the hallway.  Jengas was called forward to tend to Helga's wounds but she didn't look good.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Enemy Starbase - 1 level above fusion core - hallway]

Lahr's attention on Helga, as she was being tended to by Jengas, was pulled away as he received an update to his ear-bud comm from the other boarding teams.  It seemed several teams were meeting heavy resistance in other areas.  There was no one responding from the team assigned to capture Operations.  That wasn't good.

When it came time to report on his teams progress, Lahr pressed the unit to put it onto microphone mode.

Boarding team Five Charlie - has corridor 352-17a secure.  Reporting one severe injury - requesting beam out to ship or secured medical facility at earliest opportunity. Over.

Acknowledged.  Might take some time.  Do what you can to stabilize but priority of personnel and equipment goes to retaking the starbase.  Understood?

Lahr frowned.  Yeah he understood.  They were on their own. Yes sir, understood.

(OOC. Sorry for the double post but I was getting twitchy at not having posted all weekend.  I don't know how you guys handle it.)

[Dylan Torngate]

The fight had begun in earnest, as the Challenger raced toward the targets. The boarding team deposited, the Challenger had turned to come to the aid of the other two ships of the task group, weapons glowing hot with energy as she approached. Information came in at what seemed to be a snail's pace - the ships were identified and Dylan nodded to the petty officer who suggested the targeting of the Zhukov. "Target their cruiser, all weapons batteries to salvo fire," he ordered. Salvo fire was a direction to the gun crews to all fire simultaneously at a single target - if they were lucky, the sheer force of the assault could cripple a ship.

Moments later the Challenger joined the fray, sailing between the stricken Revere and the Zhukov. It had not been pretty. No ship was holding much back as the rebel gunners correctly identified the Challenger as the Command and Control ship, and as the biggest threat. A salvo of torpedo fire impacted the shields, as the Challenger returned the favor. A call from Engineering came in.

[Engineering]

"Engineering to bridge. Aft shields need four minutes to be able to take another hit like that. They need eight minutes to be back to full strength. If hit prior to four minutes, they will fail. After four minutes  they will absorb on more salvo like that. We get hit sooner than four minutes and we will be reduced to standard shielding."

Dylan shook his head as he replied. I can't do that Mr. Lek. I need those shields now, divert power from life support if you have to. Bridge out, he said as another round of phaser fire hit the ship.  Explosions rocked the battered ship, and the acrid taste of smoke filled the air as the Challenger and her two escort ships were pummeled by firepower from three superior warships, the burnt-orange of phaser fire strafing across and down patchy shield grids and ablative armor, melting away hull plating on both ships as they passed by each other, slowly passing at quarter-impulse by each other like broadside barrages of olden sailing ships. The ships streaked smoke, plasma, atmosphere, and flame behind them as these dreadnoughts of the stars traded haymakers, and the squeal of metal and blaring of alarm klaxons filled the ships. Automated internal transporters had evacuated the main bridge when it had been rocked by torpedo barrages, and now the ship was commanded from the Battle Bridge buried deep within the core of the ship. Damage control teams all across both ships were working feverishly to keep the weapons and defensive batteries alive. And yet, both ships were pulling their punches just so slightly. Neither ship's medical wards had been targeted, as medical crews worked to save those they could and ease those they could not.

Dylan linked into his console, trying to call up any information he had on the enemy ships. Perhaps their commanders weren't as smart as they thought they were. There were numerous tactics that could be used to disable an enemy warship - or at least convince her to lower her shields. Not original, but effective. As Dylan worked his contingency, the enemy launched their own as around a dozen small objects, about the size of three men, were launched toward the Challenger, slamming through her shields through some form of shielding and pierced into the door closing the shuttlebay.

[Boarding Party]

The hiss of gas was heard as a small, whispy substance began to flood the compartment - standard anti-intruder protocols.